JPH11108543A - Refrigerator provided with cabinet manufactured by blow molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable removably mounting of gaskets mounted on a door on a cabinet by arranging an upper gasket containing a first magnet to be mounted in a first housing groove and a lower gasket containing a second magnet to be mounted in a second housing groove. SOLUTION: An upper gasket 270 containing a magnet is mounted in a first housing groove 252 to be put onto a first binding member 310 when a refrigerating chamber 230 is closed tightly. A lower gasket 260 containing a magnet is mounted in a second housing groove 242 to be put onto a second binding member 320 when a cold storage chamber 220 is closed tightly. This can prevent inflow of extraneous air into the refrigerating chamber and the cold storage chamber or outflow of cool air therefrom. Therefore, the gaskets of a door can be mounted on a refrigerator cabinet manufactured by a blow molding method.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a cabinet manufactured by a blow molding method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a refrigerator is a device for storing food at a low temperature and keeping it fresh, a compressor for compressing and circulating a refrigerant gas, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas in a liquid state, and the liquid An evaporator is provided that generates cold air by evaporating the refrigerant.

[0003] The refrigerator includes a refrigerator for storing foods that need to be stored at a relatively low temperature such as ordinary side dishes, and a freezer for storing frozen foods such as meat or frozen desserts. The cool air generated by the evaporator flows into the refrigerating room and the freezing room through a blowing fan.

FIG. 1 shows such a conventional refrigerator 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional refrigerator 100 includes a cabinet 110. The cabinet 110 is provided. The cabinet 110 has a refrigerator compartment 120 and a freezer compartment 130 formed by a partition 125. The refrigerator compartment 120 is opened / closed by a lower door 140, and the freezer compartment 130 is opened and sealed by an upper door 150. An evaporator (not shown) is installed behind the freezing compartment 130, and a compressor (not shown) is installed below the refrigerating compartment 120. A condenser (not shown) is provided between the evaporator and the compressor.

The upper and lower doors 150 and 140 are hingedly connected to one front side of the cabinet 110. An upper groove 152 to which an upper gasket 170 is attached is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the upper door 150, and a lower groove 1 to which a lower gasket 160 is attached is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the lower door 140.
42 are formed.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cabinet 11
0 is the inner cabinet 112 and the inner cabinet 1
12 comprises an outer cabinet 114 coupled to the outer cabinet 114. The inner cabinet 112 and the outer cabinet 1
A space 116 is filled with a heat insulating material 116 such as urethane. Reference numeral 162 denotes a magnet, which is built in the front ends of the upper and lower gaskets 170 and 160, and is used when the refrigerator and freezer compartments 120 and 130 are closed.
By being attached to the front part of 10, the air can be prevented from flowing into the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment 120, 130, and from flowing out of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment 120, 130.

However, such a conventional refrigerator 100 is
Since the cabinet 110 is made of metal, a heavy load is required, which requires a complicated assembly process in which the inner cabinet 112 and the outer cabinet 114 must be separately manufactured and then combined.

Recently, as a method of reducing the load on the refrigerator and simplifying the assembling process, a method of manufacturing a refrigerator cabinet or door by a blow molding method has been developed. The blow molding method is a manufacturing technique in which specific components, for example, an inner cabinet and an outer cabinet or a door of a refrigerator are integrally formed using plastic or synthetic resin material.

[0009] US Patent No. 5,3 by Karlin et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,082 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,745 to Ryoji Naito disclose refrigerator doors and television cabinets manufactured by such a blow molding method, respectively.

[0010]

However, when a refrigerator cabinet is manufactured by a blow molding method, a magnet built in a gasket cannot be attached to the cabinet because the cabinet is made of a non-magnetic material. There is. Accordingly, there has been a need for a technique capable of attaching a door gasket to a refrigerator cabinet manufactured by a blow molding method.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to manufacture a cabinet by a blow molding method and to install a gasket attached to a door in the cabinet. To provide a refrigerator which can be releasably attached to the refrigerator.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a refrigerator and a freezer provided above the refrigerator, which is manufactured by blow molding. A cabinet in which a first two-stage groove surrounding the entrance of the freezer compartment is formed, and a second two-stage groove surrounding the periphery of the entrance of the refrigerator compartment is formed in a lower part of a front peripheral portion thereof; Opening and closing the freezer compartment, opening and closing the upper compartment door having a first accommodation groove corresponding to the first two-step groove formed in a peripheral portion of a rear surface facing the freezer compartment, and opening and closing the refrigerator compartment; A lower door in which a second accommodation groove corresponding to the second two-step groove is formed at a peripheral portion of a rear surface facing the first door; and a first magnet mounted in the first accommodation groove. An upper gasket,
A lower gasket mounted in the second receiving groove and containing a second magnet, and a first gasket for fixing the upper door to a front surface of the cabinet when the freezer is closed by the upper door. And a second means for fixing the lower door to the front of the cabinet when the refrigerator compartment is closed by the lower door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second two-step grooves are respectively formed on a front surface of the cabinet and have a quadrangular shape when viewed in a plan view, and the first groove. A second groove extending from the bottom of the cabinet to the interior of the cabinet and having an inverted frustoconical shape when viewed in plan.

[0014] The first means includes a first coupling member mounted in the first two-level groove, the first coupling member being mounted in a first groove of the first two-level groove. A rectangular frame having a shape corresponding to the first groove so as to be formed, and a pair of fixing strips formed along a periphery of a rear surface of the rectangular frame and positioned in a second groove of the first two-step groove. And a metal piece inserted into the square frame and pulled by a magnet.

[0015] The second means includes a second coupling member mounted in the second double groove, the second coupling member being mounted in a first groove of the second double groove. A square frame having a shape corresponding to the first groove so as to be formed, and a second frame of the second two-step groove formed along a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the square frame.
And a pair of fixing strips located in the groove of the rectangular frame, and a metal piece inserted into the square frame and pulled by a magnet.

The cabinet is manufactured by a blow molding method so that the first and second two-step grooves can be formed at a peripheral portion of a front surface thereof.

Next, the first and second coupling members manufactured by compression molding are mounted in the first and second two-step grooves, respectively. Next, the upper and lower gaskets are pressed into first and second receiving grooves respectively formed in the upper and lower doors.

Therefore, when the freezer compartment / refrigerator compartment is closed, the upper gasket / lower gasket attached to the upper door / lower door is the first coupling member / second gasket.
To prevent the outside air from flowing into the freezing room / refrigeration room or the cool air from flowing out from the freezing room / refrigeration room to the outside.

[0019]

The refrigerator according to the present invention having such a structure has the advantage that the cabinet is manufactured by a blow molding method using a synthetic resin or the like, so that the structure is simplified and the weight is reduced. In addition, since the cabinet can be manufactured by a single mold operation, the manufacturing process and the manufacturing time are reduced.

The above objects and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the present invention to which reference is now made.

[0021]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 shows a refrigerator 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 200 according to the present invention includes a cabinet 210 manufactured by blow molding. When the cabinet 210 is manufactured by blow molding, the cabinet 210 can be made of synthetic resin or plastic, so that the cabinet 21
Zero weight is reduced, and the assembly process can be reduced.

The cabinet 210 is formed with a refrigerator compartment 220 and a freezer compartment 230 separated by a partition wall 225. The refrigerator compartment 220 is opened / closed by a lower door 240, and the freezer compartment 230 is opened / closed by an upper door 250. An evaporator (not shown) is installed behind the freezing room 230, and a compressor (not shown) is installed below the refrigerating room 220. A condenser (not shown) is provided between the evaporator and the compressor.

The upper and lower doors 250 and 240 are hingedly connected to the front upper and lower sides of the cabinet 210 so that the refrigerator and freezer compartments 220 and 230 can be opened / closed.

The front peripheral portion 28 of the cabinet 210
The first part surrounding the entrance of the freezing room 230 is
Is formed, and the front peripheral portion 28 thereof is formed.
A second two-step groove 330 surrounding the entrance of the refrigerating compartment 220 is formed in the lower part of the zero. A first coupling member 310 is located in the first two-step groove 340. Also, a second coupling member 320 is located in the second two-step groove 330.

On the other hand, a first receiving groove 252 corresponding to the first two-step groove 340 is formed in a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the upper door 250 facing the freezing room 230. Facing lower door 24
A second housing groove 242 corresponding to the second two-step groove 330 is formed in the periphery of the inner surface of the zero.

The first receiving groove 252 has a magnet 272 therein.
An upper gasket 270 having a built-in (see FIG. 4) is attached, and the upper gasket 270 is
When the air conditioner 30 is closed, external air flows into the freezing compartment 230 attached to the first coupling member 310 or the freezing compartment 230
To prevent cold air from leaking to the outside.

The magnet 2 is provided in the second accommodation groove 242.
Lower gasket 260 incorporating 62 (see FIG. 5)
The lower gasket 260 is attached to the second coupling member 320 when the refrigerator compartment 220 is closed, so that external air can flow into the refrigerator compartment 220 or the refrigerator compartment 2
This prevents cold air from flowing out from the outside.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the first coupling member 310 is located in the first two-step groove 340. As shown in FIG. 4, the first two-step groove 340 is formed on the front surface of the cabinet 210 and has a square shape when viewed in a plan view.
And a second groove 344 extending from the bottom 343 of the first groove 342 to the inside of the cabinet 210 and having an inverted truncated cone shape when viewed from a plan view.
As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the second groove 344 is smaller than the width of the first groove 342, and is gradually increased toward the bottom 345.

The first coupling member 310 is connected to the first 2
A square frame 312 having a shape corresponding to the first groove 342 so as to be mounted in the first groove 342 of the step groove 340;
And a pair of fixing strips 316 and 318 formed along the periphery of the rear surface and located in the second groove 344 of the first two-step groove 340 and the square frame 3.
12 has a metal piece 314 inserted therein. The metal piece 314 is a metal affected by magnetic force,
The upper gasket 270 containing the magnet 272 is closed by the metal piece 314 when the first coupling member 3 is closed.
Attached to 10.

The square frame 312, the pair of fixing strips 316 and 318, and the metal piece 314 are preferably formed integrally by a compression molding method.

Also, the first coupling member 310 is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity, and the pair of fixing strips 316 and 318 are formed to be inclined in a direction facing each other. The pair of fixing strips 316, 31
The distance between the grooves 8 is larger than the width of the entrance of the second groove 344. Accordingly, the pair of fixing strips 316 and 318 are closely attached to the side wall of the second groove 344, so that the first coupling member 310 is fixedly mounted in the first two-step groove 340.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan sectional view showing a state where the second coupling member 320 is located in the second two-step groove 330. The second coupling member 320
The structure and shape of the second two-step groove 330 are the same as the structure and shape of the first coupling member 310 and the first two-step groove 340.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the second two-step groove 330 is formed on the front surface of the cabinet 210 and has a quadrangular shape when viewed from a plan view. A fourth groove 334 extending from the bottom 333 to the inside of the cabinet 210 and having an inverted truncated cone shape when viewed from a plan view is included. The width of the fourth groove 334 is smaller than the width of the third groove 332, and is gradually increased toward the bottom 335.

The second coupling member 320 is connected to the second
A square frame 322 having a shape corresponding to the third groove 332 so as to be mounted in the third groove 332 of the step groove 330;
And a pair of fixing strips 326 and 328 formed in the fourth groove 334 of the second two-step groove 330 and the rectangular frame 3.
22 has a metal piece 324 inserted therein. The metal piece 324 is a metal affected by magnetic force, and
0 gasket 2 with the magnet 262 built-in
60 is the second connecting member 32 by the metal piece 324.
0 is attached.

The second connecting member 320 is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity, and the pair of fixing strips 326 and 328 are formed to be inclined in a direction facing each other. The pair of fixing strips 326, 328
Is formed to be larger than the width of the entrance of the fourth groove 334. Therefore, the pair of fixing strips 326 and 328 are elastically inserted into the fourth groove 334 and closely adhered to the side wall of the fourth groove 334, so that the second coupling member 320 is connected to the second groove 334.
Is fixedly mounted in the two-step groove 330.

The refrigerator 1 of the present invention having such a configuration
00 is manufactured in the following manner.

First, the cabinet 210 is placed around the front surface of the cabinet 210 at the first and second two-step grooves 340, 33.
It is manufactured by a blow molding method so that 0 can be formed.

Next, the first and second coupling members 310 and 320 manufactured by compression molding are mounted in the first and second two-step grooves 340 and 330, respectively. At this time, each pair of the fixing strips 31
6, 318, 326, 328 are elastically pressed into the second and fourth grooves 344, 334. The press-fitted fixing strips 316, 318, 326, 328
Since the first and second coupling members 310 and 320 are elastically in contact with the side walls of the second and fourth grooves 344 and 334, the first and second two-step grooves 34 and
0,330 respectively.

Next, the upper and lower gaskets 27
0, 260 are formed in the first and second receiving grooves 252, 2 formed in the upper and lower doors 250, 240, respectively.
42 and press-fit into the upper and lower doors 2 respectively.
50 and 240 are hinged to the upper and lower front portions of the cabinet 210, respectively.

As a result, when the freezer compartment 230 is closed, the upper gasket 270 attached to the upper door 250 is attached to the first coupling member 310 so that external air flows from the freezer compartment 230 or the freezer compartment 230 is closed. 23
This prevents cold air from flowing out from the outside.

When the refrigerator compartment 220 is closed, a lower gasket 260 attached to the lower door 240 is attached to the second coupling member 320 so that external air flows into the refrigerator compartment 220 or the refrigerator compartment 220 is closed. The cool air is prevented from flowing out from the outside.

[0042]

As described above, since the refrigerator according to the present invention has a cabinet manufactured by a blow molding method using a synthetic resin or the like, the structure is simplified and the weight is reduced. Having.

In addition, since the cabinet can be manufactured by one molding operation, the manufacturing process and the manufacturing time are reduced.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and any person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs may depart from the spirit and spirit of the present invention. Rather, the invention could be modified or changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan sectional view showing a connection structure between a door and a cabinet of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan sectional view showing a coupling structure between an upper door and a cabinet of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan sectional view showing a connection structure between a lower door and a cabinet of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 3;

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 Refrigerator 210 Cabinet 220 Refrigerator room 225 Partition wall 230 Freezer room 240 Lower door 242 Second storage groove 250 Upper door 252 First storage groove 262 Magnet 260 Lower gasket 270 Upper gasket 280 Peripheral part 310 First Coupling member 320 Second coupling member 330 Second two-step groove 340 First two-step groove

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerating compartment manufactured by blow molding and provided with a freezing compartment provided at an upper portion of the refrigerating compartment, and a first two-stage surrounding an entrance of the freezing compartment is provided at an upper portion of a front peripheral portion thereof. A groove is formed, and a cabinet in which a second two-step groove surrounding the entrance of the refrigerator compartment is formed at a lower portion of a front peripheral portion thereof, and a freezer compartment is opened and closed, and a rear peripheral portion facing the freezer compartment is provided. An upper door in which a first accommodation groove corresponding to the first two-step groove is formed; and opening and closing the refrigerating chamber, and corresponding to the second two-step groove in a peripheral portion of a rear surface facing the refrigerating chamber. A lower door having a second receiving groove formed therein; an upper gasket attached to the first receiving groove and containing a first magnet; a second door attached to the second receiving groove; Lower gas containing two magnets First means for securing the upper door to the front of the cabinet when the freezer compartment is closed by the upper door; and the lower door when the refrigerator compartment is closed by the lower door. And a second means for fixing to a front surface of the cabinet. 2. The first and second two-step grooves are respectively formed on a front surface of the cabinet and have a rectangular shape when viewed in a plan view, and the inside of the cabinet from the bottom of the first groove. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a second groove having an inverted truncated cone shape when viewed from a plan view. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the width of the second groove is smaller than the width of the first groove, and the width increases toward the inside of the cabinet. 4. The first means includes a coupling member mounted within the first dual groove, the coupling member being adapted to be mounted within a first groove of the first dual groove. A square frame having a shape corresponding to the first groove, a pair of fixing strips formed along a periphery of a rear surface of the square frame and positioned in a second groove of the first two-step groove, and The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a metal piece inserted in the rectangular frame and pulled by a magnet. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the square frame, the pair of fixing strips and the metal pieces are integrally formed by a compression molding method. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the connecting member is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity, and the pair of fixing strips are formed to be inclined in directions facing each other. 7. A distance between the pair of fixing strips is greater than a width of an entrance of the second groove, and the pair of fixing strips are elastically inserted into the second groove and are closely attached to a side wall thereof. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the coupling member is fixedly mounted in the first two-step groove. 8. The second means includes a coupling member mounted within the second dual groove, the coupling member being adapted to be mounted within a first groove of the second dual groove. A square frame having a shape corresponding to the first groove, and a pair of fixing strips formed along a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the square frame and positioned in a second groove of the second two-step groove; The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a metal piece inserted into the square frame and pulled by a magnet. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the coupling member is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity, and the pair of fixing strips are formed to be inclined in directions facing each other. 10. The distance between the pair of fixing strips is greater than the width of an entrance of the second groove,
The pair of fixing strips are elastically inserted into the second groove and are closely attached to a side wall of the pair of fixing strips, so that the coupling member is fixedly mounted in the second two-step groove. Item 10. The refrigerator according to Item 8.